IMF lowers its GDP forecast for Ukraine, but there are also some positive findings - Fund's statement

The International Monetary Fund has lowered its economic growth forecast for Ukraine for 2026. The Fund now expects the country’s GDP to grow by only 1–1.6%, down from its previous forecast of 2%.

This is stated in an IMF press release following the conclusion of a staff-level agreement on the first review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.

The Fund noted that economic growth is slowing due to the consequences of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, as well as the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, risks to the economy remain extremely high.

Despite the challenging conditions, the IMF believes that macroeconomic stability in Ukraine is generally being maintained thanks to the support of international partners and prudent economic policies. Separately, the Fund highlighted the National Bank’s role in maintaining adequate international reserves and controlling inflation expectations.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, IMF representatives and Ukrainian authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the first review of the four-year program worth USD 8.1 billion and concluded Article IV consultations with Ukraine.